SOUTH HADLEY — The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will be the beneficiary of a fun competition to select a favorite chowder hosted by the Loomis Communities. The Chowder Bowl will take place on Friday, Feb. 13 at noon, and is free to the community with the suggested donation of a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
The Chowder Bowl will take place simultaneously at all three Loomis Communities the Friday following the Super Bowl, with attendees participating in the taste testing event at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, 807 Wilbraham Road, Springfield; Loomis Village, 20 Bayon Dr., South Hadley; and Applewood, 1 Spencer Dr., Amherst.
This is a reservation-based event in order for each community to plan attendance accordingly, and RSVPs can be made at www.loomiscommunities.org/chowderbowl.
Each community will create their version of a chowder, with all three being offered for sampling at each of the Loomis Communities. Attendees will vote for their favorite chowder, votes will be tallied at all three communities, and the favorite will be announced.
The Loomis Communities, the longest-serving provider of senior living in the Pioneer Valley, has a reputation for its culinary offerings. The executive chefs at each of the three communities have created their own chowder recipes, to be presented at the Chowder Bowl: Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing will present Nova Scotia seafood chowder, Loomis Village will present New England clam chowder, and Applewood will present Mexican street corn chowder.
“It’s football bowl season, and with our beloved Patriots making it to the Super Bowl, we felt this was the ideal time to host the community in a friendly competition to find our favorite version of chowder while benefiting another beloved institution, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts,” said Margaret Mantoni, president and CEO of the Loomis Communities.
“Food insecurity continues to demand our attention in the region, and we hope through the Chowder Bowl to raise awareness of the great work of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and address in a small way the needs of individuals and families who are confronting many economic challenges at the peak of the winter season,” she added. “We hope to warm hearts and help fill a few bellies by this friendly competition that will engage our entire community.”
While no one will be denied admission to the free chowder competition, attendees are strongly encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Headquartered in Chicopee, the Food Bank has been partnering with the community to end hunger in the region for more than 40 years. Serving the four counties of Western Mass., the organization sources, stores, and provides more than 17 million pounds of food a year — the equivalent of more than 14 million meals.
“More than 135,000 people seek food assistance every month across the four counties of Western Massachusetts,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank. “We carry out our mission to build lasting food security by providing nutritious food and partnering with communities to end hunger. We are grateful to Loomis Communities for their partnership.”
The Loomis Communities will air its own local Super Bowl commercial on Feb. 8, raising regional awareness about the event and encouraging attendance at the Chowder Bowl.
“Link413 will fulfill those regional service needs, so now you finally can get there from here,” said BRTA Administrator Robert Malnati.
The soon-to-be-unveiled concourse is an extension of the existing terminal (Terminal A) and part of an 80,000-square-foot facility directly behind the Sheraton Hotel. The new concourse includes: Three additional airline gates for passengers; comfortable and varied seating options with ample access to integrated power; new dining and retail options; new modern restroom facilities with privacy stalls, occupancy sensors, luggage storage, and contemporary vanities; an additional family restroom; self-sanitizing diaper changing stations; and BDL’s second nursing room for mothers.
